Mark 7:6 Commentary and Bible Study

In Matthew’s account of this sharp interaction Christ starts by saying, ‘Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?’ He accuses them of setting up their traditions in opposition to the commandments of God. They have charged him and his disciples with ignoring their traditions, and he does not deny it, but instead brings against them a counter charge. That counter charge completely nullifies their accusation against his disciples, because in imposing their traditions they make it impossible for a man to obey God. In keeping those traditions themselves they necessarily transgress God’s commandments. Here is the brazen audacity of human beings: that they dare to charge God with failing to honour their rules, when those rules have been designed to prevent obedience to God’s rules. Are they then in contest with God to make trial of who is going to be obeyed – him or them? Certainly they are, and today we see invented and corrupt moral standards which are intended to overthrow God’s law.So the Lord responds to them. ‘He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias [Isaiah] prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written…’ The quotation is from Isaiah 29:13. The Lord Jesus Christ is not of course commending Isaiah here, as if to say that Isaiah has done well in saying this. What Christ means is, ‘This prophecy particularly relates to you Pharisees. It is most appropriately applied to you.’ Isaiah was speaking about the Jews of his day, but the Lord tells us, as if we didn't know, that what applied to the Jews of Isaiah's day applies even to the Jews of our Lord's time. He is going to draw a great distinction between claims and acts.Hypocrites. Those who act a part, those who pretend to be righteous. Sometimes the hypocrite plays a part to deceive people and conceal his sin. At other times – which was probably even more the case with the Pharisees – the hypocrite acts a part and deceives himself. His deception includes himself. ‘I am righteous because I do all these ceremonial things’, and they did not consider their hearts. That is the Lord’s condemnation of them. ‘They honour me with their lips’, their phoney worship all for show, and it would include their acts as well. ‘But their heart’, that is, their mind, their thoughts and their affections, ‘is far from me.’ They have no relationship with me, no love for me, no obedience toward me. That is the intention of the Lord’s statement. So he condemns them for this criticism.